Radiator cap



June so, 1931. IBLACKMORE 1,812,465

RADIATOR CAP Filed Oct. 4, 1928 Patented June 30, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE LLOYD BLACKMORCE, 0F DETROIT, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR TO GENERAL MOTORS COR- PORATION, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE RADIATOR CAP Application filed October 4, 1928. Serial No. 310,254.

This invention relates to caps for radiators, particularly radiators as applied to automotive vehicles.

Radiator caps now in use are usually screw threaded on to the dome which extends from the upper tank of the radiator. In order to fill the radiator or to supply it with water lost in leakage or evaporation, it is necessary to unscrew the cap. This is somewhat objectionable, due to the length of time it takes and to the fact that the threads are sometimes stripped, making it diflicult to screw and unscrew the cap.

It is an object of the invention to construct a radiator cap which can be removed by a relatively few turns of the knob or handle attached thereto; and also to eliminate the usual threads and enable a much quicker removal of the cap.

Caps of the readily detachable type are broadly old, but none have been used for the reason that they have not proved entirely satisfactory. The structure of the present invention discloses a device which is practical and capable of use on automotive vehicles.

The cap is applied to the dome and shell of the usual radiator, the shell having a projection or raised portion over which the cap fits. The cap is preferably oval in form and has an outer dish-shaped shell portion having a beaded or flanged edge which fits over the projection on the shell. Secured to the shell portion is a flat insert, likewise beaded at its edge and secured to the beaded portion of the shell. Both the shell and insert are provided with openings through which there extends a handle comprising a knob adapted to turn and move freely in the shell portion,

and a shank screw threaded through an annular flange on the insert. The inner end of the handle has rotatably secured thereto a finger or clamp which iss ring pressed toward the shank by means 0 a spring secured to the free end of the shank portion.

The dome of theradiator has its upper edge return bent in the form of a flange which extends downwardly within the radiator opening. This flange is provided at diametrically opposed points with suitable recesses or slots which allow the finger or clamp to be inserted within the radiator opening. A stop finger 1s also provided on the flange to limit the throw or turning of the clamp or finger.

An annular shoulder is provided on the insert and over the shoulder there is fitted a washer which-is adapted to seat on the curved portion of the return bent flange of the radiator dome. When the cap is secured on the v radiator the washer will make a liquid tight connection.

The invention is disclosed on the accompanying drawings in which Fig. 1-'s a transverse sectional view through a portion of a radiator of an automotive vehicle showing the novel radiator cap in section.

Fig. 2 is a bottom plan view of the radiator cap removed from the radiator.

Referring to the drawings the numeral 2 indicates the upper tank of a radiator. The tank is provided with the flanged portion 4 to which there is secured the cylindrical dome 6 having its upper edge flanged and inwardly return bent as shown at 8. This flange is provided at diametrically opposite points with recesses 10, one of the sides of which is formed into a cam surface as indicated at 12.

The usual shell of the radiator is indicated at 14, which shell is provided with a raised portion 16, and an opening 18 to allow for the projection of the dome 6 through the shell.

Surmounting the dome 6 and raised portion 16 is the novel radiator cap ofthe invention indicated as a whole at 20. The cap includes the outer oval dished shell portion 22, having a flanged or beaded edge 24, and the inner flat insert portion 26 likewise having a flanged or beaded edge 28 which conforms to the beaded edge 24: of the shell 22. The two beaded edges serve as a means for securing the shell and insert portion together.

The shell is provided with an opening 30 about which there extends the integral annular flange 32. The insert 26 is likewise provided with an opening 34: around which there extends the integral annular flange 36. The opening 34 in the insert 26 is concentric with the opening 30 in the shell 22.

Passing through the openings 30 and 34 is the handle indicated as a whole at'38. The

' handle comprises the knob portion 46 and the threaded shank portion 42 secured thereto. The threads on the shank are preferably left hand and preferably of a low pitch. The

portion .42 is threaded into the annular flange 36 of the insert member 26 and in its normal will be caused to ride over the cam edge 12 and engage under the edge of the flange 8 to rigidly hold the cap 20 in position. The reduced portion 44 may be squared, if desired, to form a rigid connection. Mounted on the free end of the shank portion 42 is the spring 48 which constantly presses the finger or cross bar 46 in an upwardly direction, when considering the structure as shown in Fig. 1, and which spring will allow the cross bar a limited amount of longitudinal movement axially of the portion 44. The spring 48' is held on to the shank portion by means of the riveted over end 50.

The insert member 26 is provided with an I annular shoulder 52 over which there is adapted to securely seat the washer 54 which conforms to the upper surface of the flanged over portion 8 of the dome 6. When in final position as shown in Fig. 1, the washer 54 forms a liquid tight connection between the dome and the cap.

The insert 26 is also provided with one or more drain openings 56. But one opening is shown, although as many as desired may be provided.

The annular flange 8 is provided with a stop or stops 58 at the non-cam side of the recess 10, the purpose of which is to limit the turning movement or throw of the finger 46 in both directions. From an inspection of Figure 1, it will be noted that the stop 58 is in the path of the clamp or finger 46.

The operation of the device'is as follows: Assuming that the parts are in the position shown in Fig. 1, and it is desired to remove the radiator cap, the knob 40 will be turned which will turn the threaded portion of the shank 42 in the threaded flange 36 which will cause the shank portion of the knob 40 to move downward into the annular flange 32 and the finger or clamp 46 to move downwardly until the friction has been reduced so that the finger can be turned in alinement with the slots 10. When the cross bar or clamp 46 reaches the slots 10, the cap as a whole may be removed from the dome. When it is desired to close the opening, the clamp 46 is inserted in the slots 10 to cause the clamp to project below the surface of the flange 8. The knob is thenv turned so as to cause the finger to ride over the cam edge 12 of the slot 10 and rotate under the flange 8. When the clamp 46 reaches the stop 58, the continued turning of the knob 40 will cause the threaded portions of the shank and the insert portion to pull the finger upwardly and the cap downwardly over the dome 6 and extension .16 to form a liquid tight; connection due to the washer 54. In case the knob 40 is turned sufiiciently far to allow the finger 46 to project below the edge of the flange 8, the finger will then not ride on the cam surface 12 in applying the cap to close the radiator or dome opening.

I claim:

1. In a cap fora radiator, a curved outer shell portion, a flat insert portion secured to said shell portion, a shoulder on said ins'ert portion, a washer fitting on said shoulder, and means passing through said shell and insert having means adapted to secure said cap to the radiator andpress said washer over the radiator opening.

2. In a cap for a radiator, a curved shell portion, a flat insert portion secured to said shell portion at its edges, an annular shoulder on said flat portion, a washer on said' shoulder adapted to fit over the radiator opening, a handle passing through said shell and insert portions, and means on said handle to secure said cap to said radiator and tighten said washer over said opening.

3. In combination with a radiator, a raised portion on said radiator, a cap including an outer shell portion and an insert portion, a beaded edge on said shell fitting over said raised portion, a dome on said radiator, a return ent flange on said dome defining an opening, recesses in said flange, securing means rotatably mounted in said cap, shell and insert and adapted to enter said recesses and be rotated under said "flange to non-rotatably secure said cap to said radiator and over said opening.

4. In a cap for a radiator, an outer shell portion, an insert pertion secured to said shell portion, a handle turnably mounted in said shell and screw-threaded intosaid insert portion, and means on the end of the handle to secure the cap over the radiator opening.

5. In a cap for a radiator, an outer shell portion, an insert portion secured to said shell portion, a handle turnably mounted in said shell and insert ortions, said handle comprising a knob pro] ecting out beyond the shell portion, and a shank portion screwthreaded into the insert portion and projecting therebeyond, and means on the end of the handle to secure the cap over the radiator opening.

6. In a cap for a radiator, an outer shell portion, an insert portion secured to said shell portion, a handle turnably mounted in said shell and insert portions, and means on the end of the handle to secure the cap over the radiator opening, said means comprising a finger rigidly secured to the handle, and a sprmg secured to the handle and pressing against the finger.

7. In a cap for a radiator, a curved outer shell portion, a flat insert portion secured at its edge to said shell portlon, a shoulder on said insert portion spaced from said shell portion, a washer fitting on said shoulder,

and means passing through said shell and 7 insert having means adapted to secure said cap to the radiator and press said washer 1 over the radiator opening.

8. Ina cap vfor a radiator, a curved shell portion, a flat insert ortion secured to said shell portion at its e ges, an annular shoulder on said flat portion, awasher on-said v shoulder adapted to fit over the radiator opening, a turnable handle passing through said shell and insert portions, and means on said handle and tumble therewith to secure said cap to said radiator and tighten said washer over said opening.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

- LLOYD BLACKMORE. 

